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‘Mystery’ in the air? Himachal Police probe case of the appearing ‘Pak’ balloons

Calls have been placed to neighbouring states that have seen similar seizures, to IAF to rule out “spying” bids, to villagers to watch out for “outsiders”, and to units to track manufacturing

5 min readShimlaUpdated: Dec 16, 2025 08:46 PM IST

The balloon found on the rooftop of Sachdev Singh's house at Chalet village in Una. (Express Photo)

Himachal Pradesh is separated from Pakistan by Punjab and, in parts, Jammu and Kashmir – enough of a buffer, one would think, especially against a straying balloon. But, could there be strings attached?

The Himachal Police is trying to rule that out, making enquiries after balloons shaped like a plane, with ‘Pakistan’ in Urdu or ‘PIA’ (a stand-in ostensibly for ‘Pakistan International Airlines’) written on them, surfaced in Una district again. With similar discoveries reported elsewhere in the state earlier, the fact that the balloons are landing seemingly after dark has given the “mystery” a second wind.

Officers have placed calls to Punjab and Rajasthan, which are located along the Pakistan border and which have reported “similar” sightings, approached Indian Air Force (IAF) to rule out any hidden equipment, advised restrictions on vendors’ visits to villages, and also inspected local units that produce balloons.

But a “breakthrough” remains up in the air, officers admit, and so far, there is no FIR.

Una Superintendent of Police Amit Yadav told The Indian Express: “A few months back, a balloon with Pakistan markings was found in Brahampur village. At that time, we called in an IAF official, who ruled out any chip or devices for spying being attached to the balloon. After the recent cases, we have been in touch with neighbouring states on what their investigation into similar incidents has found.”

The SP added that while they had made rounds of balloon manufacturing units and vendors selling them, “So far, we have not got any clue that the balloons were either manufactured in the state or were being sold here.”

About how far the balloons may have travelled, or have they done so on helium, sources admitted they may never know. The balloons were deflated when discovered. They are stacked in police malkhanas, as officials figure out next steps.

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One of the Una residents who discovered the balloon and called police was Sachdev Singh a.k.a Pappu Lambardar, who lives in Chalet village. He said his younger son found it Saturday morning on their rooftop. “I had heard about such balloons being found, but I never imagined one would land on my rooftop… We called police.”

There was nothing special about the balloon, Singh added. “It had a thread tied around the neck, and had gone flat.” Police told them there was no need to worry, he says. “But why are these balloons landing during night hours? And if these are being sent from Pakistan, how much time would they have taken to reach Una?”

Arun Thakur, a member of Chalet’s gram panchayat, said they have instructed villagers “not to allow any stranger into the village”. “Any vendor must have permission from the district administration with proper verification,” Thakur said, adding that while such directives are regularly issued by the administration, “we have decided to follow these strictly now”.

A few days before the Chalet case, a similar balloon was reported abandoned in a field at Tahera village, almost 21 km away, also falling in Una district.

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Its gram pradhan Indu Bala said, “I informed the police. They casually conveyed to us that it was a ‘normal’ balloon. I asked them how a balloon could travel so far to our village, without getting entangled with anything in between.”

A worried Bala added: “Although it appeared to be a normal balloon, with no equipment such as a lens or chip, why are these landing in our area?”

The Tahera panchayat too has decided to watch out for “strangers” for now. “Our panchayat members decided that outsiders won’t be allowed to enter the village without police verification,” Bala said.

The Kangra incident happened in May last year, when a balloon said to have ‘PIA’ written on it was found at Suliali village.

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A senior officer at the State Police Headquarters in Shimla said they were cognizant of the matter. “We have not lodged any FIR but a formal investigation into such balloon recoveries is underway,” the officer said, adding that with Una and Kangra neighbouring Punjab, which borders Pakistan, that was their line of inquiry. “We have also got reports of such balloons being found in border states Rajasthan and J&K.”

For some, the balloon sightings have revived the memory of Operation Sindoor, launched by India after the Pahalgam attack. On May 10, parts of a guided missile, drone components and shell fragments were recovered in Kangra and Una districts.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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